The state wolf compensation fund, set at $350,000 by statute last year, saw claims from 2024 that are approaching double that amount.

Data obtained through an open records request to Colorado Parks and Wildlife showed that the agency paid out $425,478.61 in claims.

But the information provided by the agency appears to exclude claims that were denied, recent claims paid and claims still awaiting final payments or settlements.

Based on information independently verified by Colorado Politics, the total amount of claims stood at at least $649,765.90, with a dozen claims still showing as pending on CPW’s wolf depredation website.

Two ranchers in Grand County settled for lesser amounts, which are not reflected in the data obtained from the state. Additionally, three claims listed were entirely redacted, citing changes in the state’s open records law, including amounts or details about the animals involved.

That is not covered under the changes lawmakers approved in Senate Bill 25-038, which allowed for redaction of a claimant’s personal and business information.

SB 38 specifically stated that the law would not prohibit the disclosure of non-identifying information, including the number or dollar amounts of claims, claims made to the division that were settled, and the monetary amounts of those settlements, pending settlements, or denials of claims, along with the reasons for those denials.

Costs exceeding the fund’s $350,000 can be covered by the state’s Species Conservation Trust Fund, which receives $5 million annually. Additionally, the Colorado Nongame Conservation and Wildlife Restoration Cash Fund is funded by a tax-deductible contribution through state income tax returns and other unidentified sources within the Colorado Parks and Wildlife organization. The nongame fund has generally received less than $200,000 in contributions per year.

Claims paid were for 15 cattle and nine sheep killed by wolves and 21 missing cattle presumed taken by wolves, all coming from Grand, Jackson and Routt counties, and a llama killed by a wolf in Elbert County.

A second part of the claims process allows ranchers to submit the costs that wolves have caused to livestock, including reduced birth rates and market weights, as well as the impact of wolf activity on nearly 1,800 cows on the two Grand County ranches.

Conway Farrell, one of the Grand County ranchers, submitted claims totaling $558,161.92, although he has stated that his losses totaled more than $600,000 in 2024. However, he accepted a settlement with CPW for $422,784.78. That’s $135,377.15 less than what he filed for.

Another claim for $99,130.60 was apparently reduced to $56,008.74, which is $43,121.86 less.* 

A claim by Don Gittleson of Jackson County for $2,542 was not included in the report. That claim is on hold while the state reviews rules that allow only veterinarian-provided care for injured animals. Most of the time, ranchers provide that care themselves and at a substantial savings, both to the rancher and the state.

Vet shortages push Colorado Parks & Wildlife to consider new approach for wolf depredation claims

A claim approved in May by the commission, for $32,768 to compensate for cattle killed by wolves in 2024, was also not included in the information provided by the state. (The claim for $32,768, the state wildlife agency said, was covered under two payments for $4,096 and $28,672.)

Finally, two claims submitted last December for $41,138.09 and $2,118.19, respectively, for low weights and the cost of a calf and the necropsy that the rancher paid for, was also not included in the open records data provided by the state.

Sen. Dylan Roberts, D-Frisco, one of the sponsors of SB 38, said he found the discrepancies “concerning.”

In a response Friday, the wildlife agency said it denied the records request for claims that were currently pending. 

“This includes claims that do not have a final disposition of paid or denied. This is the reason for the completely redacted claims and this also includes ‘claims that were still being negotiated,'” the agency said. 

The past month has seen several dead wolves in Colorado, as well as a three-day attack by wolves in Pitkin County over Memorial Day weekend that resulted in multiple deaths and injuries to young calves and heifers.

Meanwhile, the parks and wildlife commission is changing its public comment policy and it could substantially affect the ability of people, including ranchers and wolf lovers, to comment on the wolf reintroduction program and the problems associated with it.

Next week’s commission meeting will be the first one without an update on the wolf relocation program included in the agenda.

According to the CPW website, effective with the June 11-12 meetings, “we will only be accepting public comment on rulemakings and non-adjudicatory action items at the discretion of the Chair.”

The public will still be able to make comments during the public comment period. Still, the commission will “adjust” the amount of time available based on the total number of requests, with a minimum time allotted of one minute.

Despite the most recent activity and claims from ranchers that range riders hired for the area lacked accurate information, a wildlife agency spokesman told Colorado Politics that there isn’t a wolf update scheduled for June because, at the time the agenda was drafted, staffers did not have anything to report. That’s despite the death of a calf in Gunnison County on May 6 and 

In addition, the spokesperson said, CPW Wolf Program Manager Eric Odell has “given several comprehensive updates at the last few Commission meetings, and Director (Jeff) Davis will likely share more recent updates regarding the Wolf Program as part of his Director updates.”

“We have no regulatory (or rulemaking) items related to wolves on the agenda and it is important for CPW to share information about our many programs and operations, which the Commission has encouraged the agency to do,” the spokesman added.     

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with response from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and to correct information regarding several claims.